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New transportation minister says twinning Highway 19 a priority

Despite a cabinet shuffle and intense media focus on transportation issues elsewhere in the province, Alberta Transportation has reassured a delegation from Devon and area the twinning of Highway 19 remains a project on the department's list.

Devon mayor Anita Fisher returned optimistic from the meeting, held the afternoon of Tuesday, June 19 at McIver's Edmonton office. Also in attendance was deputy minister Tim Grant, from Devon, chief administrative officer Tony Kulbisky, and from the region, MLA George Rogers, Leduc mayor Greg Krischke, Leduc County mayor John Whaley, Edmonton International Airport CEO Reg Milley.

Highway 19 was a major focus of the discussions. Fisher said she liked what she heard from the new minister.

"He's just trying to come up to speed with all the issues within his portfolio, and it was encouraging to hear, Highway 19 is one of them," said Fisher. "Every day that passes is one day closer to the twinning, and there's nothing confirmed yet, but we're definitely getting there."

Alberta Transportation had, in early 2011, placed the highway onto its tentative three-year project list, though it was subsequently removed from that list late last year. McIver could not provide any specifics as to when the twinning might occur, or when it might be placed back onto the list. Fisher said however he gave indications that it could happen soon.

McIver initiated the meeting, which Fisher took as a good sign.

"The fact that the new minister was willing and actually wanted to talk about this is, in my view, a good thing."

Transportation has been scrambling to arrange for another twinning in the province. Groups have been pushing hard for the twinning of Highway 63, the main land connection between Central Alberta and Fort McMurray, since a head-on collision on that highway killed seven in April.

Fisher said she hopes the intense focus there will not adversely affect projects elsewhere in the province.

"I would certainly hope that does not happen," said Fisher. "There are certainly other highways in the province that support what's happening in the northern region, one of them being Highway 19. It's an important issue for this community and also for the entire province."